(Translation by the Business and Human Rights Centre)

...I am not surprised that such a powerful company wants to portray itself as a victim. What does concern me is the message this process sends to anyone who might one day dare to question a project that affects their environment.

Enjoy Hotels says that its lawsuit ‘is not a SLAPP,’ that it only seeks to protect its reputation. But when a company manages to have a citizen's accounts frozen, their savings seized, and that citizen has to defend themselves alone, it has an intimidating effect, even if it is dressed up as a ‘legitimate right’. This is not just about me — it is about the right of anyone to speak out for the common good without fear of losing everything.

The company boasts of having reached ‘agreements’ with three content creators. I would call them surrenders under pressure, not settlements. When someone is faced with lawyers, seizures and legal threats, what they seek is not justice, but relief. And that demonstrates, more than anything else, the intimidating power of the process. I decided not to sign anything. Not because I feel superior, but because I believe that corporate accountability for potential environmental damage and the protection of the common good are worth more than my personal peace of mind. Because if there is a possibility that extremely important ecosystems are being affected by property development, as well as communities being deprived of a healthy environment, the Costa Rican people should know about it. And because true reconciliation requires equality between the parties, not fear...